Notes from this week's podcast: Position Yourself for a Breakthrough

Often in these times of fasting, we find ourselves crying out to God for a breakthrough -- for our personal lives or perhaps family members, in a hard situation or deep desire. You need God to move on your behalf.

How do you position yourself when you're facing a need? It's really all about God -- God needs to show up. So, how do you pray and how long should you pray for a breakthrough? How do you act in the waiting?

First, position yourself -- before you even pray. * No need to gather your friends or listeners. It doesn't start with demanding things from God. It starts with humility before God -- come before Him as nothing and realizing that He is everything. Knowing that all the answers lie with Him and you are leaning in to Him. God knows the details. This will help you to see your own heart. 

When you're [bowing] low, examine your heart. Be patient and let God show you any hindrance to your breakthrough. > Repent as God points the finger (not just confessing). You need His grace; you need His power to get through this. And as He shows it to you, He will always be ready to pour out His grace. 

Your "land" may be your breakthrough territory. 

Jesus said that some breakthroughs can only come through prayer and fasting. 

Positioning also means standing on the promises of God. 

Make time every day to be in God's Word. As God speaks a verse over you, you want to speak it out loud. That's faith. * God's Word is alive, it's life! When you speak God's Word out loud, you're speaking life, not defeat. We want a victory! We want a breakthrough!

The enemy will try to snatch that word that I am believing God for, that God is building me up for. He's ready to steal your joy. Don't let him. 

Now, how do you pray for the breakthrough? Boldly. Because if you believe this is God's will, you believe you have stood by faith on the promises of God, you boldly pray. But do you align yourself with God's will. 

Come to God as a child -- believing that He has our best interest. He's our loving Father. 

We're specific when we pray. We pour our hearts out to Him. 

Pray in Jesus' name because that's the authority that you have. 

Pray according to God's will, in His likeness, in His character. God will only act in accordance to who He is. That's why it's so important that we know the Word. Align our asking with God's will, according to who He is. 

Persist. You believe it. It's by faith you're acting on it. So you persist. Don't quit at a no. If you know this is the will of God, and the promise of God, you keep coming to God.

After you've prayed, now it's time to take action. Act in accordance with God's will. Faith without words is dead. Now it's time to obey. Obedience is what will activate your breakthrough. 

The breakthrough came because [the woman with the issue of blood] acted on her faith. 

What is God asking you to be bold about? 

Practical steps: 1. Obey any clear word that God has given to you immediately. * Obedience is doing exactly what I'm told to do, when I'm told to do it, with the right heart attitude. Be sure you line that up with the heart. 2. Step out in the direction He shows. Even if it's small steps 3. Thank God in advance. Praise precedes the victory. 4. Avoid sin that blocks the blessing. 

Scripture for further study: James 4:6, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Mark 9:29, Hebrews 11:6, Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 62:8, John 14:13-14, 1 John 5:14-15, Genesis 32 (Jacob wrestles with God), 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1-8, James 2:26, James 1:22 + the example of Abraham, Mark 5 (The woman with the issue of blood), 2 Chronicles 20 (King Jehoshaphat), Psalm 66:18